RwandAir (WB, Kigali) will add a fourth A330 to its widebody fleet this IATA summer season to boost operational resilience on its European routes, particularly to London Heathrow, according to CEO Yvonne Manzi Makolo.

"The fourth A330 is to reinforce London. Given the slot rules in London, it’s very tricky with three aircraft when one goes down," she told African Aerospace during the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) 13th Aviation Stakeholders Convention held in Kigali on May 11-13, 2025.

The A330-200, leased from an undisclosed provider, is expected to arrive in Kigali by late June or early July. It will primarily serve the carrier’s daily Heathrow route and support operations to Lagos (Nigeria).

ch-aviation has reached out to RwandAir for more details. According to the ch-aviation Commercial Aviation Aircraft Data module, RwandAir currently wet-leases an A330-200, 9H-HFL (msn 1002), from Hi Fly Malta. This aircraft is used on routes to Europe and North America, according to ADS-B data.

Makolo said the fleet expansion comes amid efforts to grow frequencies on European services, including a push to make its 3x weekly Paris CDG-Brussels National route daily.

According to the ch-aviation Commercial Aviation Aircraft Data module, the Rwandan flag carrier currently operates a widebody fleet of three in-house A330s: two A330-200s (one company-owned and one leased from Merx Aviation Finance, which is currently stored at Teruel in Spain) and one company-owned A330-300.

The narrowbody fleet comprises one B737-700 leased from Dara Aviation and five B737-800s (two owned, two leased from Air Lease Corporation, and one leased from Horizon Aircraft Finance), while the regional fleet is made up of two owned CRJ900ERs and two DHC-8-Q400s (one owned and one leased from MONTE).

RwandAir is modernising its narrowbody fleet, adding two leased B737-800s in July and August 2025 to replace its CRJ900s, which will be sold. Its sole B737-700 will be returned to the lessor this summer.

Makolo said the airline is considering options to eventually replace the Dash 8s, which serve domestic routes, due to maintenance challenges.

RwandAir has said it aims to double its fleet over the next five years, with growing access to the leasing market now that it has established a track record since launching in 2002.